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Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Happy White Wednesday! I'm linking up again this week with Kathleen over at Faded Charm for our weekly celebration of all things white! I hope you'll visit her sweet place when you have time! Always wonderful whites and a great place for lots of inspiration! Incredibly talented ladies out there!

~WHITE MATELASSE FABRIC~

Last July I shared with you a few photos of a sweet tote bag I found at Goodwill. I loved the style of the tote even though the fabric it was made out of was super cheap (especially the lining). The tote came from China and that was the only tag found on the inside.

~ORIGINAL TOTE BAG~

Late last year I finally got around to removing the lining and making a pattern, but that was as far as I got. Gosh...I always have these great plans and then I forget about them when something else comes along~hmmmmmmm...If you'd like to visit that post just click HERE!

~VINTAGE PILLOWCASE TRIM~

I used a white Matelasse pillow sham to make the tote! It was a king size sham and just the perfect amount of fabric! It's been lined with vintage white cotton sheeting and a vintage lace trimmed pocket was added to the inside. The handle ties up into a knot at the top.

~LACE POCKET~

I actually think I'd like the Tote better made using a neat flax/linen/cotton fabric as the Matelasse was a tad bit difficult to work with. But...surprisingly I liked the weightiness of it after it was finished. Accented with the edge of a vintage crochet lace pillowcase, self ties and a trio of vintage Lucite buttons.

~SIDE VIEW~

All in all it wasn't too difficult to make...I'm thinking I might make a couple using a rose print cotton for Spring...we'll see!

On Monday my little Yorkie, Mollie, decided to try and make 'nice' with a big, fat UNFRIENDLY gray cat that has been loitering in our backyard and I'm sad to say that the feline won big time!!! No time to blog yesterday as I spent part of Tuesday at the Vet and learned my beloved doggie has a severely sprained back and had to be put on anti-inflammatory and pain meds!!! :....( Right now she can't go up or down our stairs and must be carried everywhere. She is only 4 pounds and it's just heartbreaking to watch her struggle... Those of you who are pet lovers surely understand how concerned we are...

I'm going to try and catch up a little on what I've missed yesterday! Hope your day is lovely!

Monday, February 27, 2012

When I first started blogging in January of 2009 I shared with you all about a little old house not far from my home that was destined for demolition. (The title of that post was The Enchanted Cottage and if you'd like you can read it HERE). The house was indeed torn down but not before my hubby and I stripped it bare of every vintage door and window worthy of rescuing. Incredibly the land the little cottage sat on is still undeveloped and I think that is truly sad. The house, though tattered and disheveled, was better than a parking lot with nothing but concrete slabs...

~LAMP'S TOO SMALL-GOTTA GO~

(I'm on the hunt for a different one!!!)

Anyway...of all the doors and windows we hauled away that day two of the doors were absolutely fabulous! Great old hardware and the original old glass panels were still in tact. I was in heaven and still am. Since that time I've used both of them in different places in my home and over the weekend I gave one of them a new makeover...the one I'd originally painted pink is now my favorite shade of cottage white (Behr Cottage White/Home Depot). I moved it from my upstairs landing and it is now hanging on the wall next to our exterior French Doors. I actually have plans to do a glaze of sorts on the door...maybe some artwork, hand painted roses or at least some French style lettering...not sure yet! If you'd like to read how this old door was originally transformed you can read the tutorial HERE!

~ORIGINAL DOOR REMOVED~

(Early Last Spring)

It seems like this was forever ago!!! Was it just last Spring we my Mr. AGPMan did all this work???

WOWZERS!

~OUR SWEET WINDOW SEAT~

(I was bummed that it had to go!)

For now the Cafe de Paris sign will stay put! I actually like the door plain! Funny thing is before we ripped out the window seat (which we installed nearly twenty years ago and I loved!) and installed the new windows and French Doors our original backdoor was right where we hung this old vintage door!

~DREAMING of a GREAT LAMP~

I have a couple really neat lamps that I may pull from another room in my home for the table you see above. I'm hoping to recover a shade with some light French Graphics... I've been on the hunt for some wonderful linen alphabet fabric with a soft white ground and brown lettering but so far all I've found is black. It's too dark for me so I'll keep looking!

~WHAT SHALL I DO WITH THIS?

This week I'm going to be working in my studio on new product for my website and also trying to find a place for all the things that have been left homeless since our wood floors were installed... I have no idea where this sweet antique pie safe is going to go. Right now it's in my dining room and I'm terrified it's going to have to find a new home! :(

Sunday, February 26, 2012

After giving it my all
Winter storms have come
And darkened my sun
After all that I've been through
Who on earth can I turn to

I look to you
I look to you
After all my strength is gone
In you I can be strong

I look to you
I look to you
Yeah
And when melodies are gone
In you I hear a song
I look to you

After losing my breath
There's no more fighting left
Sinking to rise no more
Searching for that open door
And every road that I've taken
Lead to my regret
And I don't know if I'm gonna make it
Nothing to do but lift my head

I look to you
I look to you
Yeah
And when all my strength is gone
In you I can be strong

I look to you
I look to you
Oh yeah
And when melodies are gone
In you I hear a song

I look to you
(my levies have broken, my walls have come)
Coming down on me
(crumbling down on me)
All the rain is falling
(the rain is falling, defeat is calling)
Set me free
(i need you to set me free)
Take me far away from the battle
I need you
Shine on me

I look to you
I look to you
After all my strength has gone
in you I can be strong
I look to you
I look to you
and when melodies are gone
In you I hear a song

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Today I'm linking up with Beverly of How Sweet The Sound for PINK SATURDAY! It's been a long time since I joined in the fun over at the best-pink-place in Blogland!!! Hope you'll hop on over and check out the other pink treasures for yourself! It's always lots of fun!

~SWEET OLD FABRIC~

Vintage Pink Roses and Newer Ticking

Last Wednesday I showed you some of the new Tattered Aprons I'm going to be offering soon on my website, A Gathering Place (I have it down for construction right now but it will be reopening in mid to late March)! This week I've been working on some sweet pink-themed aprons and today I'm showing you a couple of the new ones fashioned with vintage fabrics! They are fun and pretty simple to make...

~SWEET PINK AND WHITE ROSE~

Vintage Crochet Lace Trim

The second one down was made using an old 1940's cotton and a newer pink stripe pillow ticking! I've had this vintage pink rose cotton for years and years and finally decided to put it to use! The one above was fashioned using a darling pink cameo cotton from the 1950-1970's. This design has been around for a long time and it's one of my favorites! I've seen it in the green and blue colorway, too!

This morning my Mr. AGPMan and I are going to visit a couple of tag/estate sales and also one of the neatest shopping/junking places in Oklahoma City, The Feathered Nest. It's always exciting and fun to get out with my

Friday, February 24, 2012

The whirlwind and flurry of excitement brought about with the laying of the new wood floors in our La Chaumière de Briarwood has been replaced with tired and achy bones and a desire for much needed sleep. My Mr. AGPMan and I are pretty much down for count after days and days of non-stop work. Even though we didn't personally do the installation just having to prepare our home for the new flooring made for some very full days...it's been pretty intense around here! It brought to mind the days of our early marriage when we moved fourteen times in two years...

~BACK IN PLACE~

Late yesterday afternoon the workers packed up their gear, cleaned up the mess and left. My guy has class on Thursday nights and so for an hour or two I was alone. I was so tired I honestly didn't know if I should laugh, cry or what. I stood there in the middle of our home, in the very room where over the years I watched my children grow, where nearly twenty Christmas mornings were enjoyed, where bridal and baby showers were hosted, birthdays were celebrated and funeral gatherings were attended. I couldn't help but marvel at the transformation! I feel blessed and grateful something my guy and I have wanted for so long has finally come to pass.

This change was good.

It was years in the planning...and even longer in the dreaming~

~SIMPLY WHITE~

Little by little I'm getting things back in order. It's going to take some time. We are still in the midst of a very intense kitchen remodel and that won't be finished for many, many moons~

One day at a time.

More planning.

More dreaming.

~OUR ENTRY~

This is the view from our front door..

~LOOK CLOSELY~

The view from inside our formal dining room. See where the wide molding/baseboard was removed? You can see a tiny sliver of green and pink striped wallpaper if you look closely! Well...nineteen years ago I hung that colorful stuff myself directly onto the drywall!!! A few years later when I wanted to remove it we my guy couldn't get it off. We He ended up texturing over it. The two of us literally laughed out loud when we saw it!

Didn't I just say change is good?

This one definitely was!

~LAUGHING OUT LOUD~

More pictures are coming as I work to get things back in order. There are a few things I want to bring down from upstairs and even more things being donated to Goodwill...

You may not see me for a couple of days! Aside from cleaning up the dust and getting things back to normal I'm also working on new product for my website. Hope to reopen it in a few weeks.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

This is a picture of my breakfast room on Wednesday morning. Honestly trying to keep it real here! After moving tons of stuff outside (thank you, God, for glorious 70+ degree weather) a crew of three men began our wood floor installation! After living in our La Chaumière de Briarwood for nearly twenty years my Mr. AGPMan and I can't believe the changes we once only dreamed of are finally taking place.

~PIPES MOVED~

So much prep-work was needed to get to today!

~CONCRETE POURED~

Pipes have been moved and new concrete poured...

~WHERE O' WHERE HAS MY CARPET GONE?~

Our little yorkie dog, Mollie the Molinator, has been totally confused during the process. She hasn't known just where to lay her little head... I found her sitting on the fireplace hearth just staring at me...messy hair and all!

~THE SWINGING OF THE HAMMER~

With the morning sun streaming through the windows the work finally began... The workers started in our formal dining room, made their way through the newly opened up wall and into our family room...

~LET THE FUN BEGIN~

They worked for long hours when the lead-guy, Ben, decided the entry floor needed to be smoothed out with leveling compound... Ben is the owner of the business and a master at his craft!

~ENTRYWAY THIN-SET~

As the Thin-Set cured they continued to work finishing up the den area...

~VIEW FROM THE BREAKFAST ROOM~

I asked about the blue tape and was told this keeps the wood from separating while the glue-adhesive dries. Despite the footprints and noticeable traffic dust...we are LOVING WHAT WE SEE!

Before leaving for the day Ben The Installer applied felt pads to all the furniture for us, being especially mindful of the legs of the chairs and tables. He will be back in the morning with his workers to finish the breakfast room, entryway and my hubby's office...

~VIEW OF THE FORMAL DINING~

I snapped this picture while going upstairs for the evening! Because the weather has been so beautiful we left more than half our furniture outside covered up with tarps. I'm so thankful the skies are clear and no rain is in the forecast.

I'm quite sure after Thursday I'll be spending my time getting things back to normal around here. Not a thing was left in place and even the china cabinets were emptied out (just in case!)... Once the flooring is done we'll be able to fully concentrate on the kitchen remodel. No doubt it will be done...someday!

Hard work, sacrifice and commitment has brought my husband and I to this day and we both feel totally blessed and over-the-moon excited! (This change has been a long-time-comin'!)

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Today I'm linking up again with Kathleen over at Faded Charm for White Wednesday and also What's It Wednesday over at Ivy and Elephants! I hope you'll pop over to both these fabulous places and check out all the things offered up this week! We all have a wonderful time and we'd love to have you join us!

~STONE-WASHED w/ CROCHET LACE~

Over the past few weeks I've been working on creating some new merchandise for my A Gathering Place Shoppe! For the longest time I've wanted to stitch up some vintage style aprons, but with a weathered-lace twist! I've finally gotten around to making a few and honestly I've had more fun sewing in my studio than I've had in a long, long time!

Each of the aprons you see were fashioned with vintage sheeting, pre-owned (used) window panels or newer cotton sheets. The laces/trims are all vintage as are the buttons!

~TATTERED LACE and TRIMS~

There won't be two alike! The aprons weren't terribly hard to make once I settled on a specific pattern. One basic layout was used for each apron even though the tattered cotton and lace trims have been mixed up a bit!!!

Once our new kitchen is finished I'm going to love hanging one of these up on some little chippy peg-shelf or over a cabinet knob!

~PINK-WHITE-STONE~

Couldn't resist tossing a pink one into the mix!

(Now you know a wee little bit of what I've been working on!!!!)

TODAY (Wednesday) our new wood floors are being installed. Can you see me jumping up and down with excitement? I can hardly wait!

Monday, February 20, 2012

Over the weekend my Miss K and I found some fabulous things while we were out tag sale shopping! My favorite finds were two sets of brand new tab curtains!!! I'm planning on turning them into several tattered cotton projects. We also found another set of gently used curtains for a total of three. One was white, one cream and one a soft taupe...almost a stone color. Anyway...can't wait to show you what they are being made into!

I'm always amazed at the great prices you can find on brand new things! The cream tab curtain were 63" long (two panels) and were marked down to .99!!! Great fabric!

The white panels (two) were 84" long and were priced at $3.98! Still a great deal.

The taupe panels (two) were also 84" long, but were the priciest at $4.98. The fabric on this set has that wonderful washed look and feel to them...like really great cotton sheets that have been laundered just enough! After a quick wash each one was ready for it's transformation! I'll be sharing more this week. Any guesses as to what I'm making? I've been having so much fun working on new product for my shoppe (which is down for construction until next month!)...

Now~here's a little update on our wood floors~

All the prep work has been done in our home and our new wood floors will be installed this Wednesday. Walls and door openings have been enlarged (or completely opened up), old ceramic tile has been removed, concrete has been cut out, pipes and vents have been moved and new concrete poured. It's all been grueling work and my home has been torn up since New Year's. You can't imagine how excited we are to finally walk on something other than dusty cement! The flooring is the one major thing my guy and I have hired out. Sooo worth it to us to pay someone for their experience and expertise!

This is going to be a full, hectic week for my Mr. AGPMan and I'm going to work hard at staying OUT of his way! I'll be sharing more pics tomorrow or Wednesday on just what's been keeping me busy and the flooring crew working on our home!

Saturday, February 18, 2012

I was so moved watching Rev. Donnie McClurkin yesterday as he sang at the going home service of Miss Whitney Houston. Today I'm sharing the lyrics of his amazing song with you in hopes you will be equally blessed...

~STAND~

What do you do when you've done all you can

And it seems like it's never enough?

And what do you say when your friends turn away

And leave you all alone?

Tell me, what do you give when you've given your all

And it seems you can't make it through?

Well you just stand

When there nothing left to do

You just stand,

Watch the Lord see you through

Yes, after you've done all you can,

You just stand

Tell me, how do you handle the guilt from your past?

Tell me, how do you deal with the shame?

And how can you smile while your heart has been broken

And filled with pain?

Tell me what do you give when you've given your all

Seems like you can't make it through?

Child, you just stand when there's nothing left to do

You just stand, watch the Lord see you through

Yes, after you've done all you can,

You just stand

Stand and be sure

Be not entangled in that bondage again

You just stand, and endure

God has a purpose,

Yes God has a plan

Tell me what do you do when you've done all you can

And it seem like you cant make it through?

Child, you just stand,you just stand, stand

Don't dare give up through the storm, stand through the rain

Through the hurt,yeah,through the pain

Don't you bow, and don't bend don't give up,no, don't give in

Hold on, just be strong, God will step in and it won't be long

After you've done all you can
After you've gone through the hurt
After you've gone through the pain
After you've gone through the storm
After you've gone through the rain
Prayed and cried, you've prayed and cried
Prayed and cried, prayed and cried
After you've done all you can, you just stand.

Child you just stand,
When there's nothing left to do
You just stand
Watch the Lord see you through
Yes, after you've done all you can
You just stand.

Copyright Notice 2009

All photos,written word, hand painted artwork and graphic design content on this site are the sole property of Rebecca Suzanne @ A Gathering Place. Please do not copy, borrow, adapt, download, reproduce, or otherwise make use of any content from this site without written permission from the above. Thank you very much!